In North America, most people have only seen Tai Chi, also written as taiji or taijiquan, as an exercise that people perform in the park. But, most people don’t understand its full potential as a work out for people of all ages.

Many do not realize that tai chi originated as an internal martial arts, from a place known as Chen Village. As a means of survival, the entire village, from the very young to the very old, learned tai chi and have become renowned for their martial arts. Tai chi is a highly effective martial arts. However it takes a long time, with a lot of commitment and hard work to become proficient.

People may have a few ideas about tai chi but there are also definitely some misconceptions about tai chi. Very often these misconceptions prevent many people from even trying out tai chi.

Myth 1: Isn’t Tai Chi Too Slow to offer a Good Work Out?

In North America, we believe that a real work out must involve fast aerobic exercises. However, practicing the Yang style tai chi form which can take 25 – 30 minutes to complete will have fitness effects lasting hours afterwards. And, on top of that, there are other health benefits.

If your additional health goals include any of the following, then you should try a tai chi class.

Improving balance to reduce injuries due to falls

Improving postural alignment

Using core muscles for movement and work

Improving biomechanics

Reducing joint wear and tear

Increasing muscle relaxation and balanced muscle use

Reducing mental stress and anxiety

Tai Chi when performed correctly in this slow and deliberate manner is more strenuous than it looks, while providing a safer and better whole body workout from the inside to the outside.

Myth 2: I thought Tai Chi is too gentle for anyone except the Elderly

Most of the tai chi styles do appear to be soft and gentle, but this is not always the case. After all, its origins are from martial arts. For instance, the Chen style tai chi form incorporates gentle movements with interjected explosive movements. As the original and oldest form of tai chi, this style retained most of its martial arts roots and techniques.

The Chen Style form includes a more dynamic range of postures that demand more strength, flexibility and engagement of the core muscles. Also, when our bodies move from a slow gentle movement to an explosive one, it is like accelerating a vehicle from 0 to 100km/hr, it requires a lot more energy and stability. Our bodies demand a great deal of cardiovascular activity as well as core muscle strength to move powerfully in quick bursts.

While there are many incidental health benefits for the elderly or those handicapped by other health issues, when practiced correctly, tai chi is both physically demanding as well as difficult to master advanced biomechanics. A typical practice of the Chen style first routine followed by the second routine can last for up to 40 minutes and leave you soaking in sweat as well as both mentally and physically exhausted.

Myth 3: Is Tai Chi just a series of Steps with Waving Arm Movements

If you end up in a class where you don’t learn anything more than which direction to wave your arm next, then you are not learning tai chi. To get the best out of practicing tai chi and the full health benefits, you want to understand how to move from the inside out using internal martial arts principles which engage core muscles fully, employ the full range of motion of our joints and demands postural alignment.

A good teacher will guide you through how to work with your internal core as much as your arms and legs which are the manifestation of the movement of our core energy or the “dantian”. A good teacher will guide you with goals that are within your abilities and explain how to achieve it in your practice. Repetition and a variety of training programs are required to achieve the muscle memory as well as mastery of concepts first introduced in the Tai Chi Basics class. And it does not need to be boring.

With a wide variety of tai chi class choices, people are able to continue learning, practicing and remain challenged while staying healthy and eventually mastering some of the more elusive concepts of an internal martial art. Our extensive offering of tai chi programs means people can tailor a journey that most inspires them.

The Tai Chi Fitness class is a unique offering pioneered at our Mississauga school which incorporates repetitive Tai Chi movements from Yang and Chen styles tai chi to achieve fluency in the movements while getting a good work out. People attend Qi Gong, Forms Practice and Tai Chi Fitness in addition to a primary program to boost their weekly work out time or hone skills which may still seem elusive.

Myth 4: But, I have bad knees so I can’t practice Tai Chi

When you practice tai chi as intended, tai chi will help your knees not hurt them. Knowing how to move into and out of the most effective postures for your body, you’ll learn good biomechanics which minimize impact on your knees and return proper knee alignment and function. On the other hand, poor biomechanics, tense muscles and tight knee joints are some of the issues which lead to the deterioration of our knees.

Start slow and do not push yourself too hard too fast, your muscles need time to strengthen and joints need time to restore its elasticity. Rest when you are either mentally or physically tired. We make mistakes in our movements when we are tired and not paying attention, so avoid injuries by taking a break.

Myth 5: Isn’t Tai Chi the Chinese version of Yoga?

Tai Chi is not anything like yoga. Firstly, Tai Chi is an internal martial art, even if you are practicing it for health reasons. Tai Chi is not static and will never fit on a mat like yoga. It’s a series of continuous movements which flow from one to the next. Hyperextension or over stretching is discouraged due to its potential for injury while moving from one stance to the next.

Tai Chi is known as the “moving meditation”. How you move is just as important as the final stance into which the movements evolve. It takes all of our awareness and focus to move into and finish tai chi stances as they were intended. Since there is no stopping between movements, there’s no time for our focus or attention to lapse. We have no choice except to be fully present as we practice tai chi. This fully engaged mindfulness into what you are doing now is the definition of meditation.

Even with a hip or knee replacement, tai chi can be practiced as joints remain well within their normal range of movement and typically, within the strongest range of its movement. And, because all the movements are done slowly in standing stances, people with hypertension or vascular conditions are able to participate safely.

Explore the Many Exciting Aspects of Tai Chi

These are just a few of the myths that we answer for new or prospective participants who may hesitate to join a tai chi class. The only way to understand is to get started with one of our Basic Tai Chi classes. We’ll get you started with tai chi terminology as well as typical movements which you will need again and again as you take your journey through the many exciting and challenging tai chi or qi gong classes. Check out our schedule and contact us to attend an open house or trial class.

Personally, I know why tai chi is so beneficial to people and why I enjoy tai chi so much. That’s one of the reasons why I started this blog. However I was curious to know how other people felt about tai chi and the classes we hold here at the studio.

Recently, I sent out a survey to everyone to find out what classes are preferred and what people would like to see happen here at Ji Hong Tai Chi Mississauga specifically. So, it was interesting for me to understand what people enjoy most about tai chi and I thought you might be interested as well.

“I am very self-conscious and I am mindful that I require a lot of time to fully grasp the flow. I focus on my hand or leg and sometimes forget the other physical components to the moves. I feel that I can learn at my level and not feel singled out because of awkwardness with some of the stances. This has really helped me to be enthusiastic about learning.” Donna M. [Oakville]

The Learning Experience by Tai Chi Class

There was not just one overwhelming favourite class amongst everyone. Instead, each person had reasons for enjoying specific classes and for varying reasons, people enjoy different types of tai chi classes too. If you have been eyeing any of the classes and want some insights into what you will learn in these classes, these insights may offer what you need to choose additional tai chi learning experiences.

Tai Chi Basics

Everyone starts with tai chi basics first. Starting here helps people learn the basic movements, a handful of core vocabulary terms and some basic understanding of the significance of these terms and how they influence posture, balance and biomechanics. After this class, each person has the basics to start their own personal training, journey or path. Glad to hear that people do find they have the basics after this class.

Yang Style Tai Chi

This is the most popular form of tai chi. Whenever a video clip or photo of tai chi is shown, it’s typically of people practicing the Yang style of tai chi. Between Yang and Chen styles, Yang is the more graceful looking form, with a range of lengthening and flowing movements. People found that they learned to relax, improve their posture, improve their balance when moving and they were able to de-stress and focus which brought them to a better state of mind.

People who gravitate towards Yang tend to look for health benefits, a focus on artistic expression and enjoy activities that most resemble dancing.

Chen Style Tai Chi

Chen style is the original tai chi form. It is a more physically demanding form of tai chi designed more for the martial artist within. People who enjoy these classes along with the advanced Cannon Fist indicated that the physical nature of this form was one of the aspects they enjoyed. People found Chen style tai chi improves their overall coordination and condition. They find that they learn to access and project their inner strength while remaining relaxed and performing soft movements. People also find that during the Chen classes, they learn more how the moves are applied from a martial arts perspective.

While all forms of tai chi can eventually lead to martial arts, people who gravitate to the Chen style tend to be physically prepared for more demanding movements with a wider range of speed, more demanding coordination and flexibility as well as explosive movements of internal energy.

Weapons

This is an advanced course but we encourage everyone who has a curiosity or passion to join the course. It’s a lot of fun and it’s intended to enhance your sense of using your new found skills. These two quotes say it best:

With weapons, it really makes you more internally aware of your movements and surroundings with the weapon you are holding whether it be sword, sabre or spear. It eventually becomes an extension of your body and you begin to understand the dynamics of what each weapon brings. – Oleh, [Etobicoke]

I learn how to use the spear with the muscles I have not used before. And learning my focus needs more focus, otherwise; the spear will whack on the head or my leg.” – Aree [St. Catherines]

Weapons is not only fun to do but no matter your level of coordination and balance, it will test and challenge both of these skills. When returning to practice Chen style or Yang style, people experience balance, biomechanics and postures with a new found heightened awareness of each. People become more finely attuned to all aspects of movement.

Push Hands

Push hands tests your ability to use your learned movements when there is another person using their weight to tip you off your balance. An even greater understanding of how your body maintains its balance throughout the entire movement and at all moments is tested.

“The most interesting part is feel Taiji ‘Jin’, and trying to do it in a right way”– Kevin [Mississauga]

It’s also not easy to knock someone else over without extending beyond our own centre of gravity. When people first start, it’s easy to lose balance. Over time, as people become more experienced, it’s a game of patience and continually moving with complete centredness and balance in order not to allow our opponent any opportunities to find our lack of balance. It takes patience and great awareness of our bodies to know our own balance and whether the opponents are centred and balanced or off-centre and unbalanced.

Qi Gong Health & Vitality

People have found Qi Gong to be very relaxing. It’s becoming quite a popular course for relaxation and health benefits. Qi Gong works on the meridians of our bodies as understood in Traditional Chinese Meridians to help our bodies remain healthy and stress free.

Some people are asking for more meditative variations of Qi Gong….

Tai Chi Fitness

Various movements are practiced during the fitness class. People find it an extra cardio boost to their weekly work out by adding a couple of classes per week to their regular class. If you’re looking to accomplish a movement which has so far been elusive, this class and the forms class are ideal for helping to practice specific movements repeatedly.

What People Are Saying About Our Teaching Methods and Instructors

One of the core philosophies of our tai chi studio is to encourage each person’s passion for tai chi and encouraging natural teaching skills amongst our senior members to carry on the tradition. Our dedication to teaching tai chi has always been twofold with as much emphasis on teaching as well as knowing tai chi.

Here’s what people told us about our teaching methods:

“I have taken other martial arts before, but I think May is the best instructor I’ve ever had. She’s very patient and I like the way how not only does she show us the techniques but also the theory and reason why a move is done in a certain way. “ – Enrique [Mississauga]

“May is awesome. A keen observer of how the students are moving and making helpful suggestions for improvements adapted to each students current skill level.” – P Morenz [Etobicoke]

“May is very patient and excellent teach. She knows enough to correct movements but understand it won’t be perfect in the beginning” – David C. [Mississauga]

I’m really happy to see that our focus on the teaching of tai chi as much as the tai chi itself makes your experience worthwhile. Your positive reviews are much appreciated.

May’s Insights and Observations about Tai Chi

Let me share some of my thoughts about tai chi. Hopefully, these insights will help you find the right class and offerings that will make your tai chi experience fun and personally rewarding.

Tai Chi for Health

There are many added benefits of learning tai chi. Many people come for specific objectives and then realize they are getting much more than expected. Most people start tai chi for its many health benefits. People continue practicing because after becoming and staying healthier, they discover other challenges. People become engaged in exploring the heights of personal accomplishments and physical competencies over their own bodies which is possible within the art of tai chi.

While gaining these exceptional movement skills, people still continue to improve their health, core strength, balance and posture.

Tai Chi as an Art

If you enjoy expressing yourself through art, then tai chi is perfect as a means to discover yourself and express yourself through movement. The awareness and integration of mind and body, the expression of character and personality through tai chi movement can be very fulfilling.

The forms when executed well are beautiful to watch and also to experience. You can start tai chi at any age and still be able to excel in it. Many other sports, dance or physical activities require starting at a young age to do well. Tai chi is different. You can start at any age and you have a sense of accomplishment even if you start learning tai chi late in life.

Tai Chi to Enhance Athletic Performance

Tai Chi is an excellent complement to other sports, exercise or martial arts. The core principles of posture, balance, relaxation and elasticity in tai chi can enhance your performance in other physical endeavours and activities. We have received a lot of positive feedback from those engaged in other sports like: golf, skating, running, walking, karate, rowing, tennis, etc.

Don’t be fooled by the slow pace. After several months of practice, our tai chi members become stronger and more fit than they would have ever imagined regardless of their initial fitness level on the first day of classes.

Tai Chi as a Martial Art without the Aggression

People can start tai chi at any age because there are few physical limitations. Especially, if you were interested in martial arts as a younger person but never had an opportunity, tai chi is a chance to learn a powerful martial art which is practiced at all ages.

You can build up from a minimum of physical fitness. And, you don’t need aggression or to crush your knuckles regularly to become a martial artist.

In tai chi, aggression is replaced by calmness and mental focus. External physical strength is replaced by inner core strength through postural alignment and balance. Brute force is replaced by sensitivity and elasticity. The skills that make for a good Tai Chi martial artist are the same qualities which we continue to develop as we mature. The potential in each of us is limitless.

Tai Chi is an Experience

The depth of the art is immense. We can learn for a lifetime and still continue to discover new and wonderful nuances of the art. All one has to do is just start. Join us today